Overview

The Fellowship in Pediatric Nutrition is a three-year, specialized training program offering unparalleled clinical depth and rigor, as well as opportunities for cutting-edge clinical, translational, and basic science research.

Training tomorrow's leaders

The role of nutrition is increasingly being recognized in children with acute and chronic disease processes. Research into the microbiome, metabolomics, and human-environment interactions has become more sophisticated, informing new treatment paradigms and making it increasingly important for physicians to be well-versed in the latest evidence-based approaches.

The history, expertise and compassion that make Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia unique are also what makes it the best place for medical trainees.

While all pediatricians undergo some nutrition training during residency, the scope and depth of this training varies significantly. Since 1997, the National Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists has prescribed standards for physician training and certification in clinical nutrition. However, CHOP’s excellence in training physician leaders across a range of specialties in nutrition predates this effort by a decade. We have a strong track record providing advanced training in nutrition for general pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists since 1987.

The Fellowship in Pediatric Nutrition at CHOP is one of a few programs in the country focused exclusively on pediatric nutritional challenges. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers and leadership roles in patient care, academics, and industry around the world.

Fellows will work directly with experts from our Nutrition Center within the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. The experience includes:

• A structured curriculum that addresses clinical, research, and didactic components that prepare graduates for board certification by the National Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists.
• World-renowned faculty with more than 200 years of combined experience treating patients and conducting clinical, translational, and basic science research.
• Physicians, nurse practitioners, and dietitians with significant expertise in nutritional disorders and nutrition support across the spectrum of age and disease.

Program goals

We will:

• Train pediatricians to deliver comprehensive medical care to pediatric patients with nutritional disorders
• Train pediatricians to become experts in:
  • The epidemiology, pathogenesis, and natural history of nutritional disorders
  • Nutrition-focused diagnostics, including focused physical exam, laboratory evaluation, and imaging modalities
  • Evidence-based therapeutic strategies encompassing medical and nutritional approaches in inpatient and outpatient settings
  • Advanced analytic techniques, including indirect calorimetry, body composition assessment, and measures of functional status
  • Critical evaluation of nutrition literature
  • Psychosocial aspects of nutrition care and support
• Prepare the successful fellow for leadership roles within academic settings and advocacy organizations
• Prepare the successful fellow to effectively collaborate with other members of the care team, referring physicians, primary care doctors, and other providers within the pediatric nutrition community

Curriculum overview

First-year fellows participate in programming devoted primarily to clinical training with inpatient and outpatient services, including the hospital-wide inpatient Nutrition Support Service, outpatient nutrition clinics, intestinal rehabilitation, healthy weight/obesity, endocrinology, metabolism, and electives focusing on the fellow’s area of interest. While the first year is clinically focused, there is a parallel goal of establishing a smooth plan for the transition to research endeavors at the beginning of the second fellowship year.

In the second and third years of training, fellows will spend at least 80% of their effort conducting laboratory and/or clinical research with a faculty mentor. During this time, the fellow is expected to gain experience designing and conducting hypothesis-driven research. Ideally, the chosen research project should be achievable within the fellowship training period, and at the completion of the project should result in a manuscript or manuscripts suitable for publication. Fellows are encouraged to apply for intra- and extramural grant funding. Master’s degree programs are available.

Fellows will attend and participate in divisional didactic and conference experiences, including the long-running weekly Nutrition Seminar series.

How to apply

Applicants for the Fellowship in Pediatric Nutrition must have completed a pediatric residency in the United States or Canada before entering the program. Candidates from outside the U.S. or Canada require equivalent training. Subspecialists from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply is June 1.

Prospective fellows are encouraged to contact Jennifer Panganiban, MD, at Panganibaj@chop.edu.

Selected applicants will be interviewed in person or via video.

Download the application.

As part of the application process, please send your personal statement, CV, medical school transcript, and dean’s letter (medical school performance evaluation).  Please have three letters of recommendation sent directly by the authors. Please send all materials to Jennifer Panganiban, MD at Panganibaj@chop.edu.

Other requirements

To carry out its mission, it is of critical importance for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to keep our patients, families and workforce safe and healthy and to support the health of our global community. In keeping with this, CHOP has mandated all workforce members (including trainees) on site at any CHOP location for any portion of their time be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

This mandate also applies to workforce members or trainees performing work for CHOP at non-CHOP locations. Additionally, all workforce members based in or regularly scheduled to work at any New Jersey location are mandated to be both vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, with booster timing consistent with applicable guidelines. The CHOP COVID-19 vaccine mandate is in alignment with applicable local, state and federal mandates. CHOP also requires all workforce members and trainees who work in patient care buildings or who provide patient care to receive an annual influenza vaccine. Employees may request exemption consideration for CHOP vaccine requirements for valid religious and medical reasons. Please note start dates may be delayed until candidates are fully immunized or valid exemption requests are reviewed. In addition, candidates other than those in positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, must attest to not using tobacco products.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected category. CHOP is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor seeking priority referrals for protected veterans.

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Contact us

Jennifer Panganiban, MD
Fellowship Director
Panganibaj@chop.edu
215-590-3247